Hello from the Explorer II! We are in contact with the outside world due to several of us "volunteering" for a trial today of the ship's newly implemented wireless access to the internet. Grant was more than happy to volunteer!

The weather today is ideal with bright sun among some scattered clouds.

The seas have been pretty calm so far, despite a forecast of foul weather that turned out to be completely wrong. Those of us on the lowest deck (B Deck) had our portholes closed for 2 days, which made our outside cabins very dark. Portholes are open today - we have internet access - Grant has Gatorade - and all is well!

Here are a few pictures from our pre-cruise day in Santiago, Chile as well as our first stop - Stanley in the Falkland Islands - and a few shots from the ship. Today we passed the Prisendam.

Check out the A&K website with the ship's log - you will see some familiar faces... Explorer II Ship\'s Log

We are to reach South Georgia Island tomorrow and will have the opportunity to take pictures of something other than sea birds :) Looking forward to the penguins and seals that we hope to see there!

How great to be the guinea pigs for the wireless! Thanks for the report and the photos. Glad the weather is holding out for you all.

Thanks for reporting in, Grant! Maybe now that there is wireless, we will get some ship and people pix!